As you begin this week, read the fourth commandment below in two different Old Testament books. Observe the reasons given for this commandment in each.
Remember the Sabbath day to set it apart as holy. For six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God; on it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your cattle, or the resident foreigner who is in your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, and he rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. Exodus 20:8-11 NET [Emphasis added.]
Be careful to observe the Sabbath day just as the LORD your God has commanded you. You are to work and do all your tasks in six days, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. On that day you must not do any work, you, your son, your daughter, your male slave, your female slave, your ox, your donkey, any other animal, or the resident foreigner who lives with you, so that your male and female slaves, like yourself, may have rest. Recall that you were slaves in the land of Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there by strength and power. That is why the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day. Deuteronomy 5:12-15 NET [Emphasis added.]
These two reasons are foundation stones of God’s design for Sabbath rest. Further study of Sabbath in the Old Testament expands these ideas far beyond resting one day of the week. Sabbath is, in fact, God’s “rhythm of life” intended to provide periodic release from stress and anxiety in all aspects of his creation.
Our modern “24/7/365” culture insists on busyness and production. We also experience constant pressure to disdain our status quo. A persistent bombardment of ads swirl and shout that we must acquire (for ourselves) and give (to others) new “stuff” and exotic experiences. And, that’s not enough, once those are outmoded, there are myriads of best methods to clean out and donate old possessions. God’s call to Sabbath can too easily be pushed aside in favor of elusive achievements and pleasures.
But if we look at Sabbath as a gift from God meant to refresh us: to give us calm, to appreciate his presence, and to reflect on the simplicity of his ways; we will cease to view this practice as a roadblock to fulfillment.
It’s worth noting that this fourth commandment is a bridge between the three commandments addressing our relationship with God and the six which address our relationships with each other. Exodus highlights God’s own practice of Sabbath and Deuteronomy highlights God releasing his people from slavery to worldly systems (then symbolized by Egypt) so they could fully practice Sabbath rest.
Like the Sabbath, God has designed other spiritual practices we’ve reviewed during this “Way of Jesus” series: scripture reading, service, prayer, gratitude, generosity, hospitality, and fasting (next week’s topic), as gifts to us. He doesn’t demand or need us to practice them, but intends them to benefit us immensely. So today, when you meditate on the above scriptures about Sabbath, reframe Sabbath as part of our glorious inheritance in him.
by Kathleen Petersen
